Growing Sprouts - Help Needed

[ADM]

I have a seed sprouter and successfully grow alfalfa seeds, mung beans and radish seeds. (Other suggestions are always welcomed! :) I can have a new crop to harvest every 3-5 days. The cost factor and freshness are wonderful. They store well, refrigerated.

Does anyone who sprouts seeds have a TNT tip on how to most easily remove the hulls from the sprouted seeds? I rinse, dip and slosh over-and-over but it is a time-consuming process. Is that just the way it is? Once, in desperation, I removed the mung bean hulls one-by-one. :eek:

I searched and did find a BB thread on sprouting seeds, but that did not answer my question.

[Gumbeaux]

ADM,

I use the plastic jar lids below and put them on Mason jars to grow sprouts. You start out with the fine mesh so that the seeds don't wash out when you change the water. As the sprouts grow, you change to a lid with larger size hole openings. When rinsing, the hulls will wash away while the sprouts remain in the jar. This is an easy system that works perfectly.

I am totally addicted to sunflower sprouts! :) They are great on salads but are so tasty that they are good eaten by themselves.

http://www.sproutpeople.com/devices/jar/photos_jar/3screens.160x120.jpg

[avariell]

Gumbeaux -
can you tell me where to buy those and exactly how you do this? how much sunlight do you need? i lovvvve sprouts and never thought about being able to grow them on my countertop.
ADM - any tips you have would be great as well :)

[Gumbeaux]

Gumbeaux -
can you tell me where to buy those and exactly how you do this? how much sunlight do you need? i lovvvve sprouts and never thought about being able to grow them on my countertop.

I don't use much sunlight. Whatever light that falls on the counter top is what I use. It is not direct sunlight; low light is best for growing sprouts.

This site (http://www.sproutpeople.com/devices/jar/jar.html) sells sprout jars and explains how to use them. I purchased the same lids from a health food store. I am planning to buy some more jars and lids so that I will always have a "crop" ready to harvest.

http://www.sproutpeople.com/devices/jar/photos_jar/jar_lid_sprouts.120x200.jpg

[avariell]

awesome, thank you for posting the link. it sounds pretty simple.

just as a tip - i love adding sprouts to soup. i think sunflower sprouts in particular are a great addition to just about any soup at the last minute :) i reallly liked them in the pho i just made from dahlia's recipe :)

[bobmark226]

Josie, most likely you can also buy the sprouting jar at any good local health food store, which is where I got mine, and save the shipping costs. You don't need light. On the contrary, dark and warm is best, which is why a bottom cabinet, especially that one under the sink, works well.


HTH,
Bob

[wallycat]

I just started sprouting broccoli seeds. YUM.
I use a cheesecloth over any ball jar.

[bobmark226]

I use a cheesecloth over any ball jar.

I did that for years, and it's certainly an easy way to get started without spending ten bucks more, but those lids with different size screens really make the de-hulling a lot simpler.

Incidentally, a lot of garden centers now have an interesting selection of seeds for sprouting along with all the other spring seeds.

Bob

[ADM]

[Seeds should sprout in 2-5 days. Rinse well under running water, refrigerate if not consumed the day of harvesting.]

Suggested seeds: Alfalfa; Lentil; Radish; Broccoli; Mung; Chickpeas; Black Beans; Lentils; Sunflower; Pumpkin; Wheat; Cabbage; Black-eyed Peas; Popcorn; Brown Rice; Wheat; Clover; Sunflower; commercial mixed seeds for sprouting.
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Garbanzo beans - Black, Brown and Beige - aka Chick Peas. One of the most delicious and versatile sprouted beans.

Seed to Sprout in 2-3 Days; Yield = 2:1; Seed Shelf Life at 70° = 5 years; Sprout Shelf Life = 2-6 weeks.
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Lentils - Black, Crimson, Eston, French Blue, Green, Orange, Pardina, Red, & White.

Seed to Sprout in 2-3 Days; Yield = 2:1; Seed Shelf Life at 70° = 5 years; Sprout Shelf Life = 2-6 weeks.
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Peas - Green, Speckled, Marrowfat, Tiny Mottled Bill Jump & Yellow Peas.

Seed to Sprout in 2-3 Days; Yield = 2:1; Seed Shelf Life at 70° = 4-6 years; Sprout Shelf Life = 2-6 weeks.

[Anne]

I love sprouts, particularly in late winter when there is so little really good fresh produce available here. Sunflower sprouts mixed with a bit of cream or yo-cheese and jack cheese make a wonderful sandwich spread and sprouted grains (wheat, kamut, spelt) are a great addition to yeast breads.